Electric switch or signal apparatus.



Patented out. 3, |899 F. ANDREWS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH 0R SIGNAL APPARATUS.

(Applicatin led Sept. 3, 1898..)

THE Nonms Pneus co. Fumo-nwo.. wAsHlNcmN. u. c,

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wiillllhllr 4 w 1 M (if ,m

V Q ww l L M v/ E ,L s A I f a MJ Y f w 7 z 1L E ,r ZZ l ZZ f Y, l?

F. ANDREWS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH 0RS|GNAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 3, 1.896.]4

3 1m T w 9 IN1.. |lH 1V W Z al l u Pil .qlllqh .om z l l.

(No Model.)

No. 634,226. Patented Oct. 3, |899.

F. ANDREWS.

ELECTRlG SWITCH 0B SIGNAL APPARATUS.

f (Application led Sept. 3, 1898.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Tv-.c Norms verm: co, rHnroLm-lo., wAsHmmoN, n c.

No. 634,226. I Patenfed Oct. 3, |899.

F. ANDREWS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH 0R SIGNAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 3, 1898.)

ma Nonws PE1-sns co. Hofe-uma., wAsmNGToN, mc.

No. 634,226. Patented Oct. 3, |899.

vF. ANDREWS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH 0R SIGNAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept. 3, 1898.,"`

(No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5l l L La jy @u FRED ANDREWS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO rllllt ELEVATOR SUPPLY AND REPAIRCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH OR SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,226, dated October3, 1899.

Application filed September 3, 1898. Serial No. 690,173. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom t may concern: shown.) Upon the shaft of the pulley I3 isBe it known that I, FRED ANDREWS, a resimounted the sprocket-wheel X,connected by dent of Chicago, in the county of Cook and a chain X' to asimilar sprocket-wheel X2. State of Illinois, have invented certain newThe wheel X2 is carried upon a shaft a; upon 55 and useful Improvementsin Electric Switch which is mounted a sprocket-wheel X3, over and SignalApparatus, of which I do declare` which passes a cha-in Y, to which isconnected the following to he a full, clear, and exact a depending rodor cable Y'. lVhile the rod desciption. or cable Y and the mechanism forshifting The present invention has for its object, the same correspondwith the indicatonrod 6c 1o lirst, to provide an improved constructionof and shifting mechanism shown in Letters electric switch moreespecially adapted for, Patent No. 511,987, granted to me January use inconnection with signal systems for pas- 2, i894, it is manifest that themechanism for senger-elevators, although susceptible of use shitting thecable Y from the pulley-shaft in other situations, and, second, toimprove in may be the same as that shown in my above- 65 other respectssignal apparatusfor usein pasv mentioned patent, or any other convenientsenger-elevators. mechanism may be employed for shifting the Theinvention consists in the novel mechcable Y', and a rod or wire may beused inanismhereinafterdescribed,illustratedin the stead of a cable,if'preferred. accompanying drawings, and particularly It will beunderstood, of course, that the 7o 2o pointed out in the claims at theend of this mechanism for shifting the rod or cable Y specification.serves as a reducing mechanism, so that while Figure l is a diagrammaticview through the shift of this cable corresponds to the theelevator-shafts of abuilding, showing eletravel of the elevator-car, buta very slight vators with myimprovements applied thereto. movement ofthe cable occurs. 4 75 Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in side ele-IVithin the elevator-cars B and l5 are arvation of the switch mechanism.B ig. 3 is a ranged, respectively, the incandescent elecview incross-section on line 3 3 ot Fig. 2. tric signal-lamps l) and 1J", thepurpose of Fig. TL is a detail view, in vertical section, which lamps isto notify the operators of the through the upper half of the mechanismcar that a passenger is awaiting the service 8o 3o shown in Fig. 2. Fig.is a View in front eleof the car upon one orother of the l'loors.

vation through the push-button box, the cover The mechanism next to bedescribed is so dcof the box and the push-buttons being resigned that apassenger upon any floor by opmoved. Fig. (i is aview ou line 6 G ofFig. 7. erating the push-button can cause the lamps Fig. 7 is a view insection on line 7 7 of Fig. within the cars to begin to burn as the cars85 5, looking` in the direction ot the arrows. approach the iioor onwhich the passenger is Fig. S is a View similar to Fig. l, but showingstanding in order that the operator ol any a modified construction ofapparatus. Fig. 9 car approaching the floor will be notified by is aview similar to Fig. 2, showinga modified the lighting of the lamp thata passenger is construction of switch mechanism. Fig. lO awaitingservice at such floor. Thus, for ex- 9o 4o is a view in section on linel0 IO of Fig. 9, ample, if the passenger upon the third iloor looking inthe direction of the arrows. is desirous of going up he will push the upReferring more particularly to the conbutton at such door and will causethe sigstructions shown in Figs. l to 4 of the drawnal-light within eachcar that approaches the ings, A and A denote two adjoining elevatorfloorin upward direction to burn, the lamp 95 shafts of a building, thefloors of the building remaining lighted until after the car passesthrough which the shafts pass being desigthe Hoor on which the signalwas given. nated as l, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. At convenient pointsadjacent the elevator- B and B/ denote the elevator-cars. To each shaftare arranged the switches C, and at each of the cars I3 and B' isconnected a liftingiioor of the building is arranged one or more roc 5ocable B2, that passes around an overhead push-button boxes l). Wherethere are but pulley B3 tothe usual winding-drum- (Not a fewelevator-shafts in close proximity, a

single push-button box at each lloor will suftice. Each switch vmay beso constructed as to serve for several tloors of the building, or, ifpreferred, a switch may be located at each iioor of the building. Theconstruction illustrated in Figs. l to t of the drawings shows eachswitch adapted for controlling the signals from two adjoining floors.

Each switch C (in the form ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. l to 4)is shown as comprising a contact-bar 5 and rails or guides (3 and 7, thebar 5 and the rails (S and 7 being preferably mounted upon an insulatedblock E, conveniently fastened to a plate e, attached to the back oftheretaining-box E. rlhe box E is shown as closed by a cover E2, which maybe removed to permit access to be had to the mechanism therein. rlhecontact-bar 5 is of suitable conducting material, such as brass, copper,or the like; but the rails (i and 7 are mainly of non-conductingmaterial, such as hard rubber, ber, or the like. At the top ofthe rail7is mounted a gate S, that is shown as pivoted at 0 (see Figs. 2 and -i)to the upper end of the rail 7. The top edge of the gate Sis shown asbeveled, so as to bear squarely upon the inclined upper part of the rail6, and the gate 8 is forced normally toward the upper part of the rail Gby a suitable spring. I have shown for this purpose a coil-spring l0,(see Fig. l,) that passes around the pintle ll of the gate, one end ofthe coil-spring bearing against the gate and the other end of thecoil-spring engaging the rail 7. The rail t3 and the rail 7 are eachprovided with one or more contact-plates, the number and arrangement ofwhich will depend upon the number of floors for which the switch isdesigned and. the particular floor adjacent whieh the switch is located.The detailed views Figs. 2, 3, and -l of the drawings show the switchthat controls circuits for the first and second floors in the form ofapparatus shown in Fig. l, and in this switch the rail G is providedwith a contact-plate F, while the rail 7 is shown as provided with twocontactplates G and G.

XVithin the box E of each switch are mounted suitable guide-rods l5,that serve to guide the cross-head li, each cross-head having arms 7Lformed with openings, through which pass the guide-rods l5. Each of thecrossheads H is formed with two holes, within which are set the tubularbushings 20, of insulating material, each bushing 2O having fittedtherein a bearing-sleeve 2l. (See Fig. fl.) One of the bearing-sleeves2l has pivotally mounted therein the journal 22 of a contactarm K, whilethe other bearing-sleeve 2l has journaled therein the bearing-arm 22 ofa similar contact-arm li', the arms 'h and K having their free endsprovided each with a contact brush or .finger 7.: and 7e. The crossheadIl is formed with threaded openings adapted to, receive set-screws 23,that serve to securely retain the insulating-bushings 2O and sleeves 2lin position. rllhe contactl finger 7a of the arm K is adapted to rideagainst the contact-bar 5, while the contact-'finger 7e of the bar K/ isadapted during its upward movement to ride against the rail ti andcontact-plate F and at the extreme of its upward movement to passoutside the gate S and then upon its down movement to ride against theouter face of the gate S and the outer face of the rail 7. Thecontact-arms K and K are connected together by a coil-spring K2, theends of which engage the screw-posts k2, fixed to the arms K and K', andthis spring K2 serves to hold the contact-fingers 7.: and /r in bearingwith the rails 5, G, and 7 and serves also for the passage of currentbetween the vContact-arms. The cross-head His connected to the shiftingcable Y' by means of a clip h2, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) so that thecrosshcad moves in correspondence with the car l of the elevator-shaft.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 of the drawings is shown one ot' the push-buttonboxes D, designed for any iloor intermediate the top and betteln tloorsof the building, and this push-button box is therefore provided with anup7 button M and a down button M. It will be Y readily understood,however, that for the bottom floor of the building the push-button boxwill contain but a single up button, while for the top floor of thebuilding the push-button box will contain a single down button M', and,except as hereinafter noted, the construction of the push-button boxesfor the top and bottom floors will be the saine as that illustrated inthe drawings. 7Within the pushbutton box D (shown in Figs. 5, G, and 7)are mounted two pairs of magnets O and O, these magnets being heldbetween the plates 3 and 3l. 'lhepoles of the magnets O extend throughthe plate 3l, that is of insulating material, and upon the side of theplate ill are fixed the bars 32, 33, and 3l, also of insulatingmaterial. The armatures O2 of the magnets are pivotally supported by thepins o,that project into the end bars 32 and and the central bar 33, asshown. The central bar 233 is shown as a 'tf-shaped bar, thelaterally-extending ends of which bar have fixed thereon thecontact-plates 35 and lt, while between these contact-plates 35 and lliis arranged a central contact-plate 37, held in place by a binding-postscrew 3S. rlhe plates and are connected by wires Slt with the coilsofthe magnets O and O. 'llo each armature O2 is connected a brush l0,et' spring metal, the arms -Ltl and l2 ot' which are adapted to contactwith the contact-plates 35 and 37. On each armature also is mounted abloc-lc l-SS, of insulating material, to which block is fastened ashifting arm =l--t, that projects out.- wardly, as shown in Fig. 7, andhas its :tree end inclined or curved and formed with the shoulder L15.Beneath each arm it-'t extends a plate-spring l-(, that is attached tothe bar 32, (see Fig. (5,) this spring serving to hold l the arm -l-l:and the corresponding' armature in the position shown in full. lines :tFig. 7

IOO

IZO

of the drawings. The plate 30 at one end of the magnets O and O isformed or provided with lugs 50, to which are pivoted the ends of thebutton-levers 52 and 53, each of these levers having a bifurcated freeend, between the arms of which is set a block 54, of insulatingmaterial. The levers 52 and are forced normally against theircorresponding buttons M and M by a spring-plate N, that is attached tothe front edge ot' the plate 3l bya screwn, the free ends of thespring-plate N engaging the levers 52 and 53 and serving to thrust themOutward. The bifurcated ends of each of the levers 52 and 53 receive thefree end of the corresponding arm 44, (see Fig. 7,) and each of thelevers 52 and 53 is provided with a pin 57, adapted to bear upon theinclined edge of the arm and ride over the shoulder thereof.

The mechanism last described is designed to operate as follows: Vthenone of the pushbuttons--llL for example-is forced inward it, will cansea corresponding inward movement of the lever 52, thereby forcing the pin57 and its lever to ride along the inclined edge of the arm 44, thusmoving this arm and the armature O2, connected therewith, toward themagnets O and causing the pin 57 to engage with the shoulder 45, thusholding the lever 52 in its shifted position against the force of theplate-spring N. This movement of the armature O2 will be sufficient tocause the arms 4l and 42 of the brush 40 to touch the conta-ctplates 35and 37 and establish passage of cn rrent at such points. As soon,however, as the circuit is completed bythe switch mechanism, (in mannerto be hereinafter described,) thereby causing the passage ol' currentthrough the magnets O, the armature O2 will be drawn into contact withthe pole of the magnets O, and the pin 57 will thus be released fromengagement with the shoulder ot the arm 44, thereby permitting thespring` N to throw the lever 52 to the normal position seen in Fig. 7.

Having thus shown the construction of the switch mechanism and thepush-button mechanism, the arrangement of the electric eircuits whereinthese parts are placed will next be described.

From a conveniently-located battery F eX- tends the wire p, from whichbranch wires 1) p2 p3 p4 lead to the binding-post 23S of each of thepush-button boxes D, and from the pair ot' magnets O leads a wire GO, abranch til of which connects with the contact-plate F of the switchadjacent one of the elevatorshafts, while a similar branch GitL connectswith the corresponding contact-plate F of the switch at the adjacentelevator-shaft. lt will be understood, of course, that il` theelevatorshafts are more numerous and more switches are employed thenumber of branch wires from the wire (30 will be corr spondinglyincreased. The contact-bar 5 of the switches (used in connection with.the left-hand elevator-shaft illustrated in Fig. l) is shown aspermanently connected by branch wires (54 and 64L with the wire G5, thatleads to one terminal of the incandescent lamp l) within theelevator-car B, and from the opposite terminal of this lamp a wire G6leads back to battery P.

From the foregoing description the operation of parts thus far definedwill be seen to be as follows: The elevator-car B will be assumed to beat the ground-floor of the building, and it will be assumed that thecontactplate F will be arranged at such position upon the rail G thatthe finger lt" of the contact-arm K will touch the lower part of thecontactplate F at such time, so that the operator of the car will begiven a signal one iloor in advance of the floor at which he is to stop.lf now a party on the second floor desiring to go up presses inward theup button M, the contact-arms 4l and 42 of the plate 40 will be broughtto bear against the contact-plates 35 and 37. Current will then pass asfollows: from battery l by wire p and branch wire p2 to contact-plate37, (see Fig- 6,) thence by arm 42, brush 4t), and arm 4l tocontact-plate .55, thence through magnets O, by wire GO and branch wiretil, to contact-plate F, (see Fig. 2,) by contact-iinger lt', (assumedto be at such time in contact with the lower part of plate F,) by arm Kand coil-spring K2 to contact-arm K, by contact-finger 7s to contactbar5, by branch G4 and wire 65 to the incandescent lamp b, and from thelamp b, by wire GG, to battery. Hence it will be seen that the lampwithin the car will be caused to burn, thus indicating to the operatorthat a passenger upon the second floor desires to be carried upward. ltwill be understood that as the car moves upward a corresponding upwardmovement will be given to the crosshead H by the switch-cable Y', andafter the ear B has passed the second floor (having taken on thepassenger) the finger 7s of the contact-arm K will pass from oft theupper part of the contact-plate F and onto the insulating-rail t5.Passage of current will then be interrupted and the signal-light withinthe car will cease to burn. The cross-head H will continue to travelupward in correspondence with the movement of the car B until the carreaches the top 0f the elevatorshaft, about which time thecontact-linger 7c of the arm K will pass through the gate S, which willclose as the contact-arm K passes beyond it.

On the down movement of the elevator and corresponding down movement ofthe crosshead ll the contact-linger 7a of the arm K will ride againstthe side of the rail 7. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it willbe observed that the rail 7 is provided with two contact-plates G andG'. The contact-plate G is set at such position that the contact-lingerlz of the arm K will pass onto the upper part of the plate G at the timethat the elevator is about at the third lloor of the building, and thelength ot the plate G is such that the con- IOO 1. ceases tact-iin ger twill pass from ol'f this plate about the time that the elevator-carpasses in its downward movement beyond the second iloor of thebuilding'. The contact-plate G of the switch C, that serves for theiirst and. second Afloors of the building, is connected with thepush-button box D at the second Hoor by a branch 7l 'from a wire 70,that is united to the wire 72 of the pair of magnets O'. (See Fig. 5.)Hence it will be seen that it' a party on the second iioor desires toride down he will depress the down button M, thus causing the arms ofthe brush i0 of the magnets O to close the circuit between the plates 3Gand 37. As soon as the contact-finger 7e in its downward movement passesonto the contact-plate G circuit will be completed as follows: frombattery P by branch wirep2, plate 37, brush t0, plate 36, magnets O,wire 70, and branch 7l to contact-plate G, thence by contact-arms K andK to contact-bar 5, thence by branch wire G4 and wire G5 to the lampwithin the car, and from said lamp by wire back to battery. The passageof current through magnets O will release the lever 53 and permit thespring end N to restore it and the push-button M to normal position. Thelamp i) within the car will continue to burn until the contact-finger7s" of the arm K passes from ofi the contactplate G, when circuit willbe broken and the lamp within the car will cease to burn.

The contact-plate G of the rail 7 serves for the iirst iioor of thebuilding and is connected by branch wire 75 with a wire 76, that leadsfrom the push-button box D of the tirst floor. Inasm uch as thispush-button boxD is located on the iirst iloor, it will not be providedwith a set of down magnets or any down button, but will be furnishedsimply with an up button and magnets corresponding to the button M andmagnets O, hereinbetore described, together with suitable partscoperating therewith. Hence it will be seen that it' the up button ofthe p ush-button box on the rst floor be depressed current will passfrom battery P by wire p and branch wire p to contact-platc 37, thencethrough brush i() to plate i-5, thence through the magnets O by branchwire 76 to wire 75 to contact-plate G, thence through contact-arm K',wire K2, and contact-arm K to rail 5, and thence by branch 64 and wireG5 to lamp b, and thence by wire G6 back to battery. The contact-plate Gis of such length that the nger 7s of the arm K will pass onto the upperpart of this plate at the same time that the downwardly-moving car Bnears the first i'loor, and the arm will remain upon the plate until thecar leaves the vtirst floor in its upward movement.

The switch mechanism for the third and fourth floors is the same as thathereinbetore described, except for the arrangement of thecontact-plates. In the switch for the third and fourth Vfloors the railG will have its centact-piate F arranged at a higher point upon the railand the upper end of the rail will be formed with a contact-plate G2,(sce Fig. 1,)

so that as the car nears the top licor the contact-linger ol' the arm Kwill pass onto this late G2 and will remain u )on this )late un- -o tilthe car in its downward movement passes onto the gate and the rail 7.Hence when the car is near or at the top floor the down button of thetop push-button box l) will ca-use current to pass to the signal-lamp of75 the car in the followingl manner, viz: from battery lj by wire p andbranch wire p1 to plate 37 of the push-button box, thence through brushLiO to plate 36, thence by wire 39 to the magnets O, thence by wire 70and 8o The upon the respective rails (5 and 7 at higher 9o points uponthe rails, the contact-plate F being connected by branch wire Ul to awire G0, leading from the pair of magnets O of the push-button box atthe third tloor, while the contact-plate G is connected by a branch wireSl with a wire S2, leading from the pair of magnets O' of saidpush-button box.

By reference to Fig. l it will be seen that the switch mechanism for theelevator-shaft A isthe same as that hereinbei'ore described, suitablecross connections being employed to electrically connect the switches,so that when a push-button upon any floor is depressed it will set theswitches for each clevater-shaft. the wire 70 not only connects bybranch wire SO with the contact-plate G2 oi' the nearest switch, but thewire 70 also extends across to the opposite elevator-shaft and isfurnished with a branch S3, leading to the contact-plate G2 upon thecorresponding switch of said shaft. In like manner also the wires (50and S2, that lead from the push-button box of the third iloor, extend tothe opposite eleVatoi'-, shaft and are connected by branch wire (il:Land S2 with the proper contact-plates of the switch at such shaft. Se,also, the wires UO and 70, leading from the push-button box ot thesecond Hoor, are connected by branch wire GOL and 7O=L with thecorresponding switch ofthe elevator-shaft A. Hence it will be seen thatwhen a push-button is depressed the switches at each elevator-shaft areset in order to cause the signals to appear in the vFirst car that mayapproach the floor from which the signal is given. \Vhile I have shownthe cars il and il as provided with signal-lamps, it is manifest thatany other 'form of visual or audible signal maybe used instead of alamp.

In Fig. 8 of the drawings lhave shown not only signal-lamps within thecars, but have shown indicator-lanterns upon the several .floors of thebuilding in order that as a car IOO rFhus in Fig. l it is seen that TIOapproaches a i'loor in upward or downward direction the correspondinglantern will be illuminated, and the switch mechanism is so lnodiiied asto control the passage ol current both for signaling the operator of thecar and for lighting the indicator lanterns at the proper times. ln thisform of my invention each elevator-shaft is provided at each loor with aswitch C2, the construction of which is shown in detail in Figs. 9 andl0 of the drawings. The first door ot' the building is shown as providedwith a single indicator-lantern L, having displayed thereon the wordsFirst car up, and the top iioor of the building is shown as providedwith an indicator-lantern L2, having displayed thereon the words Firstcar down, while the intermediate floors of the building are eachfurnished with two such lanterns L and L2.

The switch C2 is a duplex switch, being designed to perform the doubleofiice of controlling the passage of current through the signal-lanternsL and Lzand through the signal-lamps l) and b' of the car. By referenceto Figs. 9 and lO it will be seen that each switch C2 is inclosed withina box E, as in vthe form of switch hereinbefore described,

and upon the back of the box is mounted a plate c, carrying aninsulating-plate E, to which are attached the contact-bars 5 and therails or guides 6 and 7, belonging to one section of the switch, and thecontact-bar 5b and the rails or guides 6b and 75, belonging to the othersection of the switch. Referring to Fig. 9, it will be seen that therail G, which is ot' insulating material, is providedwith acontact-plate G4 and the rail 75 is provided with a contact-plate G5,while the gate S is shown as formed of conducting material. In likemanner the rail 6b is provided with two contact-plates GG and GT, whilethe rail '7b is provided with a contactplate G5, and, as shown, also thegate Sb at the top of the rail 7b is formed of conducting material.Suitable guide-rods 15, mounted within the box, carry a cross-head H,the arms of which slide upon the guide-rods, as in the constructionhereinbefore described. The cross-head H has mounted thereon fourcontact-arn'is K5, K4, K5, and KG, that'are supported upon thecross-head as in the hereinbefore-described construction, the pair ofarms K3 and K4 being connected by a coiled wire 7.12, while the pair ofcontact-arms K5 and K( are connected by a coiled spring-wire 7a4. Thecross-head H is connected with the switch-cable Y', as hereinbeioredescribed, so that the cross-head shall move in unison with thecorresponding elevator-car. The duplex switch shown in Fig. O of thedrawings is that designed for the third floor of the building; but itwill be understood that the duplex switches used for all floors betweenthe top and bottomwill be the same, except for the location ot' thecontact-plates that are arranged in each switch in correspondence withthe floor at which the switch is located. The construction ot thejecting at one side of the lantern.

push-button box is the same as hereinbefore described.

Referring more particularly to the detailed views Figs. 9 and l0 of thedrawings and to the switch and circuit shown at the third iloor of thebuilding and adjacent the elevator-shaft A, it will be seen that thepushbutton box D is connected with battery P by wire j) and by branchwire p, that leads with the plate 37 of the push-button box. From theupper set ol magnets O of the push-button box leads a wire 00, that isconnected by a branch wire Ol with the contact-plate G'L of the switchC2. The contact-bar 5 of this switch is connected by a suitable branchto wire G5, that leads tothe signal-lamp b within the elevator-car B,and from the lamp h a branch wire 6G leads to a wire 665, that connectswith the battery P. Hence it will be seen that when a passenger upon thethird iioor desiring to go up depresses the up button M current will becaused to pass from battery P by wire p to plate 257 of the pushbuttonbox, thence by brush 40 and plate tothe upper pair of magnets O, thenceby wire OO and branch wire 91 to conta'ctplate G5, and as thecontact-finger of the arm Kl passes onto the contact-plate G4 during theupward movement ot' the car current will pass from plate GL tocontact-arm KLL by wire c2 to contact-arm K: and thence by contactbar towire (55, that leads to the lamp within the car B. From lamp b currentwill pass by wire 6G and wire G65 back to battery P. Hence it will beseen that as the car in its upward movement approaches the third Hoorthe signal-lamp l) within the car will be caused to burn.

Each signal-lantern L and U consists of a suitable globe or frame havingan incandescent lamp therein, the terminals of the lamp being shown inthe drawings, Fig. 8, as prolVhen the push-button hl is depressed inmanner hereinbefore described,current will be caused to pass not onlythrough the signal-lamp of the car, but will also pass through thelantern L. The wire 90, leading from the push-buh ton box, is connectedby branch 00 with one terminal of the lamp within the lantern L, andfrom the other terminal of said lamp a wire 92 leads to thecontact-plate G of the rail G5. The contact-bar 5b is connected bybranch wire 93 with the wire (Jl, that connects to wire G6, leading tobattery I). Hence it will be seen that as the car in its. upwardmovement approaches Jthe third floor (the np i button having beendepressed as above described) current will pass from the pushbutton boxby wire 90 and branch wire J8 to lantern L, thence by wire 92 tocontact-plate GG, thence to contact-arm K, (which during the upwardmovement of the car willpass onto the contact-plate G2) thence by coiledwire 751, contact-arm K5, contact-bar 5" to branch wire 923 to wire 94,and by wire GG to battery. Hence it will be seen that when the up IIObutton is depressed not only will the operator of the car receive asignal, but as the car approaches the l'loor the lantern L will becaused te burn, thus indicating` the nearest car coming in upwarddirection. As soon as the car in its upward movement passes to suchposition that a corresponding movement ot' the cross-head H shall causethe contact-arm K to pass from oil" the contact-plate G'l and thecontact-arm K shall pass from ott the contact-plate G the signal-lampwithin the car will cease to burn and the lantern L will also beextinguished. By reference to Fig. t) it will be seen that thecontact-plate G eX- tends lower downward than the contact-plate G4, thepurpose oi' this being to give to the waiting passenger a more extendedsignal than is necessary to be given to the operator in the car.

The lower or down magnets O' of -the push-button box are connected by awire 95 to a wire 0G, from which a branch wire 97 leads to thecontact-plate G5, and the contact-wire 95 leads to one terminal of thelantern lf3, from the opposite terminal et' which lantern a wire 0Sleads to the contact-plate G, this plate G being in electricalconnection with the gate 8, (in the third-floor switch,) which is alsoelectricallyconnected with the contactplate G7. Hence it will be seenthat when the down push-button is depressed at the third floor currentwill be caused to pass from battery as follows, viz: by wire p to plate37, by brush at() to plate 3U, to magnets O, to wire 95, to wire 0G, tobranch wire 07, to contactplate Gi", to contact-arm K4 by coiled wire k2to contact-arm K3, to bar to wire (35, to lamp Z) within the car, andfrom lamp l) by wire Gti and wire 66 to battery. The signallamp withinthe car B will thus be caused to burn. 'lhe same depression of thepush-button M will also cause current to pass from the magnets O by wire95 to one terminal of the lamp in the lantern L2, and from the oppositeterminal of said lamp current will pass by wire 9S to contact-plate G,thence to arln K, to coil-spring 7a4, to arm K5, to contact-bar 5, tobranch wire 93, to wire Q-l, and thence by wire GG" back to battery. Thepassage of cu rrent as last indicated will cause the lamp within thelantern L2 to burn.

ln Fig. 9 of the drawings the parts are shown in the position occupiedat the time that the carin its downward movement has just passed belowthe third floor of the building; but it is manifest that as soon as thecarpasses downward so far that the contact-iingerof the arm K passes offthe end of the rail 7" the ceilspring 7u will d raw the contact-arm tothe left, so that its finger shall bear against the rail Gb, and in likemanner when the contact-Hilger of the arm K'l passes oit the end of therail 7 the spring 7a2 will bring this contact-linger into bearing withthe rail GL. The arrangement of the contact-plates G7 Gg and the gates8^'L and 8 in the switch for the third tloor (see Fig. 0) is such thatafter the car has left the third lloor and before it completes itsupward travel the contact-linger of the contact'i-arln li will pass ontothe contact-plate G7. Hence passage of current through the lamp of thelan tern L2 will be established even betere the car reaches the extremeof its upward movement, and as the car moves down the contactlinger ofthe arm K will move over the gate S, causing current to continue to passthrough the lamp of the signal-lantern until thc contact-finger of thearm K passes from oft the contact-plate G, which will occur at the timethat the car reaches the third tloor in its downward movement. inasmuchas the operator in the car does not need so long a signal in advance,the contact-Vinger ot the arm K, which controls the passage ot' currentthrough the lamp in the car, will not pass ente the gate 8 (ofconducting material) until the car has begun its downward movement fromthe fourth `floor.

The push-button box l'or the first floor of; the building` will have buta single pair ol' up" magnets O,and the numberand arrangement ofcontact-plates in the switch lor this tleor will be modified, sincethere is no down movement of the elevator-car from such lloor. Byreference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the rail G:l of the switch C2is shown as having no contact-plates and that the contact-plate Gt ofthe rail 7 is located at the extreme end of the rail. Se, also, thecontact-rail (5" is shown as having a single contact-plate G aud therail '7b is shown with a single contact-plate G8 located at its lowerend, the. contact-plate GS being connected with the contact-plate G by awire O9. From this construction it will appear that as the elevator-caron its down movement approaches the tirst tloor the contact-nger of thecontact-arm Ki will ride upon the contact-plate Gry and current willthen pass from battery l) through push-button box D, thence by wire 90and branch wire 100 te contact-plate G5, thence by contactarm K4 throughwire 7a2 to contact-arm K,

and thence to contact-bar 5, to wire G5, to l signal-lamp l), and thenceby wire GU and l wire GG back to battery. The lamp l) within the car Bwill thus be lighted to signal the operator just before the. car reachesthe first lloor. As the car reaches the first floor the contact-arm K1will pass lrom ofi' the lower end of the contact-plate and onto the railG, and as this rail is of insulating material the electric circuit willbe broken and the lamp l) will be extinguished. hilanifestly, however, acontact-plate might be inserted in the lower part of the rail G and heelectrically connected with the contact-plate Gr5 it" it should bedesired to have the signal-lamp continue to burn while the car is atrest upon the first tloor. It will also be seen that when thepush-button at the first floor is actuated as last described currentwill also pass from battery l" through push-button bex D by wires il()and SiO through the lantern l), thence by wire 09 to contact-plate G,'thence by cross- ICO IIO

ceases wire 9) to contact-plate G8, thence by arm KG, by wire 751, andby arm K5 to Contact bar 5b, thence by wire J3 to wire fl-l, and thenceby wire 66h back to battery. It will be seen, therefore, that as the carnears the first floor the lantern L will be caused to burn, indicatingto the passenger which of the several elevator-ears will be the first togo up. Just before the elevator-ear B reaches the tirst floor thecontact-linger of the arm KG will pass from off the contact-plate GS andwill be drawn by the spring 704 against the contact-plate G, so thatcurrent will continue to pass through the lantern L so long as the carremains at the first tloor. As soon, however, as the car begins itsascent the contact-finger of the arm K will pass above the contact-plateGG, and current will thus be broken.

The top ioor of the building is provided with a push-button box D,having a single pair of down magnets O, and is provided with a singlesignal-lantern L2. The switch for the top licor of the building ismodified, as clearly shown by Fig. S of the drawings. In this switch therail 6 is provided with a single contact-plate G4 at its upper end, andthe contact-rail 6b will also be provided with a contact-plate (l7 atits upper end similar to the plate shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, Forthe top-floor switch, however, the rails 7 and 7l need not be providedwith contactplates. fVhen the puslrbutton at the toL floor is actuated,current will be seen to pass as follows: from battery P by wire p topushbutton box D, thence by wire and branch wire 91 to contact-plate G4,thence (as the car nears the top floor) by contact-arm K4, wire 7a2, andcontact-arm K3 to contact -bar thence by wire o5n to lamp b within thecar, and thence by wires 66 and Gob back to battei-y. Current will alsopass by wire 90 to lantern L2, thence by wire 9S to contact-bar G2,thence to coiitact-arm K by wire 751, to contact-arm K5, to plate 5b,thence by wire 93 to wire 0l, and thence by wire o6b back to battery.Then the car reaches the top door, the cont.act-finger of thecontact-arm K* will pass through the gate 8 and the contact-iinger ofthe contact-arm KG will pass through the gate 8l (said gates being ot'insulating material in the top-iioor switch) and the passage of currentthrough the signal-lamp b of the car will be broken; but thecontact-finger of the arm KG will continue to rest upon the plate G7,and current will continue to pass through the lantern L2 so long as thecar B remains at the top floor.

The switch mechanism at the several elevater-shafts is the same asalready described, and the several switches of the variouselevator-shafts will be cross-connected, as ind in cated in the drawingsand as will be readily understood by those familiar with this class ofmechanism. It will be readily understood that instead of signal lampsand lanterns, as above described, other styles of signals might be-used, although the lamps and lanterns are preferable. So, also, it willbe understood that the details of the switch mechanism may be variedwithout departure from the sgiritof the invention and that such switchmechanism may also be advanta geously used in other situations.

While in the preferred embodiment of the invent-ion l employ twocontact-arms, one riding overa contact-surface and in constantelectrical connection therewith and the other riding over rails orguides and at intervals engaging with contact-plates, still it ismanifest thatthe broad purpose of the invention may be attained Awithoutadopting this specitle construction. So far as I am aware my inventionpresents the tirst instance of a switch in which there is a movablecontactarm adapted to be shifted back and forth in combin ation withmeans forguiding said arm in different paths during its movements inopposite direction, so that the contact brush or finger of saidcontact-arm shall make different contacts when moving in one directionfrom the contacts made by it when moving in the opposite direction. Theprecise manner in which said movable contact-arm has its constantconnection made with the electric circuit is therefore not essential,although preferably it is accomplished as hereinbefore described. So,also, while it is preferable to provide one of the rails with a gate ortlexi ble end portion to guide the contact-arm l do not wish theinvention to be understood as restricted to this precise means forguiding the contact-arm.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireJto-seeure by Letters Patent, is-

l.' An electric switch comprisinga movable contact-arm and means forshifting said arm back and forth in combination with means to engage theend of said contact-arm and so direct its movements in different paths,contact-plates arranged alongsaid different paths of said contact arm,and suitable means whereby said contact-plates and said contactarm maybe connected with the electric eircuit.

2. An electric switch comprising a pivoted contact-arm, of means forshifting said arm back and forth in combination with guiderails againstwhich the free end of said arm will travel and a device adapted toengage the free end of said arm for causing the same to travel along oneof said guide-rails by a movement in one direction and along the otherof said guide-rails while moving in the opposite direetiomand suitablecontact-plates interposed in the path of travel of said arm.

An electric switch comprising a movable contact-arm and means forshifting said arm back and forth, in combination with guide-- rails forsaid arm, one of said rails being shorter than the other, means fordirecting the arm from one guide-rail to the other and suitablecontact-plates arranged along the ditterei'it paths of saidcontaet-arni.

IIO

i. An electric switch comprising a movable contact-arm and means forshifting` said arm back and forth, in combination with guiderails torsaid arm, a gate whereby'the path of travel of said contact-arm ischanged from one guide-rail to the other, and suitable contact-platesarranged in the path ot travel of said contact-arm.

5. An electric switch comprising a pair of contact-arms and means forshifting the same back and forth, in combination with a contact-bar withwhich one of said arms engages, plural contact-plates arranged to beengaged by the other of said contact-arms, and means for guiding saidlast named contact arm against different plates during its movements inopposite directions.

G. An electric switch comprising a contactbar and plural contact-rails,a cross-head. movable along said bar and rails, said cross-head beingprovided with a contact-arm adapted to ride along the contact-bar andwith a second contact-arm adapted to ride on its upward movement againstone of said rails and upon its downward movement against another of saidrails, and one or more contact-plates arranged in the path of saidsecond contactarm. Y

7. An electric switch com prising a contactbar, a contact-arm movablealong said bar and having a linger or part engaging therewith, railsarranged adjacent said bar and a second contactarm electrically7connected with said lirst contact-arm, contact-plates arranged in thepath of said second contactarm, and a swinging gate whereby saidlastnamed contact-arm is caused to pass from engagement with one of saidrails into engagement with the other of said rails.

8. An electric switch comprising two movable contact-arms, a contact-barof conducting material along which one ot said arms will travel, pluralrails along which the other of said contact-arms will travel, means fordeflecting one of said contact-arms to cause it to pass from one rail toanother, and suitable spring mechanism for holding said contact-arms inbearing with the contact bar and rails.

9. An electric switch comprising two movably-supported contact-arms andsuitable means for reciprocating said arms, a contactbar along which oneof said arms will travel and two contact-rails along. which the other ofsaid contact-arms will travel, one of said rails being shorter than theother, a swinging gate for del'lecting the contact-arm from one rail tothe other and contact-plates in suitable number and arrangement alongsaid rails.

l0. An electric switch comprising two or more movable contact-arms, asupport whereby said arms are carried baci; and forth, a contact-bar ofconducting material against which one of said contact-arms will bear,plural rails against which the other of said contact-arms will boar andmeans at the upper ends olil said rails for engaging the free end ol;lsaid last- `named contz'iet-arm in order to shift it and thus cause saidarm to ride upon a different rail while moving in downward directionfrom the rail whereon it rides while moving in the upward direction andone or more contactplates arranged in the path ol' said last-namedcontact-arm.

ll. An electric switch comprising two or more contact-arms, a movablepart whereby said contact-arms are carried and whereon they arepivotally mounted, a contact-bar along which one of said contact-armswill travel, plural contact-rails and means for causing the other ofsaid contact-arms to travel along one of said rails in one direction andalong the other ol' said rails in the opposite direction, and springmechanism for holdingsaid contact-arms in engagement with saidcontact-bar and said rails.

l2. An electric switch comprising the combination with suitable guides,of a reciprocating cross-head, contact-arms pivotally mounted upon saidcross-head, a contact-lair along which one of said contact-arms willmove, plural rails provided with one or more contact-plates and suitablemeans for causing the other of said contact-arms to move along one ofsaid rails in one direction and against the other of said rails in theopposite direction.

13. An electric switch comprising two independent contact-bars and twoindependent pairs of contact-rails provided with contactplates, incombination with a cross -head mounted in manner free to move along saidbars and rails and two independent pairs of contact-arms, onecontact-arm of each pair being arranged to engage the correspondingcontact-barand the other contact-arm of each pair being arranged to bearagainst its corresponding guide-rails.

li. ln a signaling apparatus for eleva-tors, the combination withpush-button or like eircuit-controlling mechanism arranged along theelevator-shaft and with a signal upon the car, and with an electriccircuit connecting` said push-button or like mechanism and said signal,of a switch mechanism interposed in said circuit and comprising acontact-bar, a reciprocating contact-arm and means for shifting the samein unison with the elevator, a second contactarm electrically connectedwith said first-mentioned arm and plural rails for guidingsaid secondcontact-arm, and contact-plates along said rails said contact arm andrails being arranged independently of the elevator-car.

l5. ln a signaling apparatus for elevators, the combination with apush-button or like circuit-cont rolling mechanism arranged along theelevator-shaft and with a signal upon the car and with a signal at thedoor of the elevator-shaft, of a switch mechanism comprising` twoindependent contact-bars and two independent pairs of guide-rails, and acrosshead mounted to move along said contact- IOO IIO

connected to said signals and to said pushbntton mechanism.A

FRED ANDRE\VS.

Witnesses:

C. A. REINERS, GEO. P. FISHER, Jr.

